Jumper



H. WENKER Sept. 5, 1939,

JUMPER Filed March 1, 1939 INVE 7 M lk 9 Patented Sept. 5, 1 939 IUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE My invention relates to improvements injumping devices which are intended to enable a child to jump upwards andforwards for considerable distances, thereby providing a healthful andamusing exercise for the child.

Essentially, my invention consists of a system of two elastic S-shapedsprings arranged in the form of a horizontal letter V, and means toattach one of these spring arrangements to each leg of the child.

The objects of the improvements are, first, to reduce the number ofoperating parts, and thereby the cost, of my jumper as much as possiblewithout impairing its efllciency; and second, to

increase by a novel arrangement of springs the efliciency of the devicein about the same proportion as a forward; or running, movement is addedto the upward, or jumping movement usually associated with devices ofthis kind.

One form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, inwhich Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a jumper in appliedposition, the coacting leg being diagrammatically indicated by brokenlines, and the device in the en- '35 suing phase of contraction of thesprings being indicated by broken dotted lines; Figure 2 is a detailedview in perspective of the device.

In practice, each jumper comprises an elongated'brace or member I,preferably of metal.

so The upper part of this ,member i is widened so as to encircle, inpart, the leg of the child, and

is provided with leather straps 2 adapted to be disposed around the legto hold the upper portion of the member I thereto. The lower part of 85the member' I is shaped in form of a heel piece so as to encircle, inpart, the heel of the foot of the child, and secured to this heel pieceare straps 3 to engage over the instep of the foot. I To the lower .endof this heel piece is secured by screws 4 a pedal or foot rest 5 in theform of a plate, preferably of wood, having the general outline of thefoot; The forward or toe portion of the pedal I is provided with straps6 for engagement over the forward or toe portion of the foot. v

Beneath the pedal 5 is an open V-shaped spring, including an uppers-shaped leaf 1 secured with its forward end to the forward or toe endof the pedal 5 by screws 8, and a lower s-shaped leaf 9 secured with itsrear end to the rear end of the upper leaf 1 by rivets I0. The forwardportion of the lower leaf 9, in applied position, serves as a baseresting onthe ground and is preferably formed with a flexible rubbercoating ll 65 which functions to prevent skidding on the ground when thedevice is in actual .use.

, The-forward end of the upper leaf 1 is connected to the forward end ofthe lower leaf 9 by strap l2 of a flexible material with its lower endriveted to the forward end of leaf 9, and its upper end screwed to thepedal Sand interposed between the upper leaf I and a metal strap I3.This strap l2 opposes the expensive movement of the V-shaped spring andat a given desired position prevents further expansion of the spring.

It will be understood that during actual operation of the device thepoint of contact of spring 9 with the ground will shift toward theforward end of spring 9 at approximately the same rate as a forward orrunning movement is added to the upward or jumping movement of thechild, therebyincreasing the operating length of the spring and itsefficiency. This will add material- 1y to the enjoyment of the device asit enables the child to cover distances at a relatively high rate ofspeed with comparatively small eflort.

I am aware that prior to my invention jumping devices have beendescribed comprising a foot rest, a brace and a spring arrangement underthe foot rest. I therefore do not claim such a combination broadly.

I claim:

1. A jumping device comprising, in combination, a foot rest, footengaging means carried by the foot rest, an elongated brace having oneend portion secured to the rear end of said foot rest, leg attachingmeans carried by the brace, a V-shaped spring beneath said foot restincluding an upper S-shaped leaf secured to the forward end of said foot.rest and a lower S-shaped leaf secured to the rear end of the upperleaf,

the convex surface of the forward portion of said lower leafoperating toserve as a base on the ground, means to prevent skidding under theforward portion of the lower leaf, and a flexible.

strap connecting the forward ends of the upper and lower leaf andoperating to limit the expansion of the spring.

12. A jumping device comprising, in combination, a foot rest, footengaging means carried by the foot rest, an elongated brace having oneend portion secured to the rear end of said foot rest, leg attachingmeans carried by the brace, a V-shaped spring beneath said foot restincluding an upper S-shaped leaf secured to the forward end of said footrest and a lower S-shaped leaf secured .to the rear end of the upperleaf, the convex surface of the forward portion of said lower leafoperating to serve as a base on the ground, a flexible, skid-preventingcoating under the forward portion of the lower leaf, and a .flexiblestrap connecting the forward ends of the upper and lower leaf andoperating to limit the expansion of the spring.

- HENRY WENKER.

